Nigerian Catholic Priest Sued By American Woman Who He Allegedly Raped

[p]Retired American teacher, Kathy Coll has sued a Nigerian Catholic Priest, Fr. Cyprian Duru for allegedly raping her in 2016. In the 13-count suit, Coll also sued the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bishop David Zubik, and St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Parish, her Ross Township church.

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[p]Kathy Coll was a retired high school English teacher and Eucharistic minister who sang in the choir, taught CCD classes and volunteered countless hours for her church.

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[p]According to Coll, her life changed for worse after the sexual assault by Father Duru, who was studying at Duquesne University and assisting her North Hills parish.

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[p]The widowed mother of two adult sons said she still has trouble processing how the Catholic Church responded two years ago when she reported she had been raped in 2016 by a Nigerian priest.

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[p]According to a report by triblive.com, her complains charges that the diocese failed to properly vet Duru before assigning him to a parish where she and others were asked to give support and assist to a predator priest from a region where clergy were known to prey on older women.

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[p]She alleges that the assault occurred in December 2016. The suit was published by other Pittsburg media including CBS News and WTAE Pittsburgh.

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[p]“I spent 2 ½ years trying to get someone to listen to me,” Coll said. “No one was listening to me, so I decided it was time to say I want to make something happen here.”

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[p]She alleges that the church heard complaints from others about Duru’s inappropriate behavior toward older women, failed to act quickly, and later neglected to explain why Duru was removed from ministry after she reported her assault.

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[p]Her complaint bears echoes of hundreds of allegations in last summer’s Pennsylvania grand jury report that detailed decades of church inaction against priests accused of child sexual abuse in Catholic dioceses across the state.

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[p]Coll’s suit details her account of how Duru whom she agreed to tutor in English and occasionally transported to Pittsburgh — began taking frequent walks through her neighborhood that fall. On Dec. 11, 2016, Coll said Duru stopped by her home on the pretense of giving her a Christmas card. She said when she offered him a cold drink, he followed her to her family room, overpowered her and assaulted her as she screamed for him to stop.

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[p]Duru, who remains at Duquesne on a student visa, could not be reached for comment.

[p]Although Coll underwent a rape kit exam at UPMC Passavant hospital that showed evidence of intercourse, she said authorities said it would come down to a “he-said-she said” case with Duru claiming it was consensual.

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[p]A spokesman for Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala told the Trib prosecutors met with Ross Township Police, Coll and her attorney to go over the case.

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[p]“After reviewing the evidence and the investigation, we informed the victim and her attorney that based on the evidence as it exists, we cannot move forward with any charges,” said Zappala spokesman Mike Manko.

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[p]An award-winning teacher who once led active outdoor tours with her late husband, Ed, Coll said she’s reclaimed her life after months of therapy and prayer.

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[p]But she worries that a lack of diligence on the part of a church struggling to fill pulpits could expose others to danger.

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[p]“The crux of our complaint is the church’s failure to vet Duru,” said Smith. “He is a predator and shouldn’t have been here.”

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[p]A spokesman for the Pittsburgh Diocese insisted the church was never made aware of any other allegations against Duru and has been supportive of Coll.

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[p]“When the Diocese of Pittsburgh learned of the allegation against Cyprian Duru, he was immediately r